a county of the province of Munster in Ireland, bounded on the west by those of Limerick and Clare, on the east by the county of Kilkenny and Queen's county, on the south by the county of Water- TIR

Tipperary Tirol.

Gough's edit. of Camden's Britannia.

ford, and on the north and north-east by King's-county and the territory of the ancient O'Carols. It extends about 42 miles in length, 27 in breadth, containing 599,500 acres, divided into 12 baronies, in which are several market towns and boroughs. It sends eight members to parliament, viz. two for the county, two for the city of Cathel, and two for each of the boroughs of Cionnell, Fetherd, and Thurles. The north part of it is mountainous and cold; but in the south the air is milder, and the soil much more fertile, producing plenty of corn, and good pasture for the numerous herds of cattle and flocks of sheep with which it abounds. The north part is called Ormond, and for a long time gave the title of earl, and afterwards of marquis and duke, to the noble family of Butler, descended from a sister of Thomas à Becket archbishop of Canterbury, till, at the accession of George I. the last duke was attainted of high-treason, and died abroad. In that part of the county, the family had great prerogatives and privileges granted them by Edward III. Another district in this county was anciently called the County of the Holy Crofs of Tipperry, from a famous abbey in it styled Holy Crofs, on account of a piece of Christ's cross that was said to be preserved there. This abbey and district enjoyed also special privileges in former times. The remains of the abbey, or rather the spot where it stood, are still held in great veneration, and much resorted to by the Roman Catholics.